Helmet for acetylene welders



Feb. '27, 1945. R. T sHlELDS 2,370,499

HELMET FOR ACETYLENE WELDERS Feb. 27, 1945. R: T. SH|E| D5 2,370,499

HELMET FOR ACETYLENE WELDERS Filed July l2, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor wwf-WMS 2- ,es By 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Feb. 27, 1945. R. T. SHIELDS HELMET FOR kACETYLENE WELDERS Filed July 12, v1943 Patented Feb. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE L HELMET'FOR ACETYLENE wELDERs Raleigh T. Shields, Newport News, Va. `-Application July 12, 1943, Serial No. 494,380

` 3 claims.

My invention relates tov improvements in helmets such as are worn by acetylene Welders, and of the type in which welding operations are viewed through a colored glass panel for protecting-the eyes, and clear glass panels for protecting the colored panel.

The primary object of my invention is to equip such helmets inexpensively, and without complicating the structure, for removing the colored glass panel out of the range ofvision, at will, and without using the hands, so that clear vision may be had through the clear glass panel, whenever desired, for instance, when attaching the electrode in the electrode holder.

Another object is to provide for protectingl the eyes from flying hot metal, or flux, and alsofrom the arcs of the `other Welders nearby.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding Vdescription and claims are read with-reference to. the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a viewin vertical section of a welders helmet embodying my improvements,

Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation, drawn to an enlarged scale,

- Figure 3 is a view in vertical section taken cnl the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View in perspective of the third frame for the colored glass panel, and showing the manner in which the legs of the yoke are attached to said frame,

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the yoke swinging member, drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of a modification of the invention, and

Figure 8 is a similar view in rear elevation of another modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the helmet I, shown fragmentarily, and having the rectangular sight opening 2 in the front thereof, is, according to my invention, equipped as follows:

A rectangular, flat plate 3 is bolted, as at 4, around its top and side edges to the inner face of the helmet I, and which is constructed on its front side, and adjacent the bottom thereof, to form an internally channeled, relatively smaller, rectangular keeper frame 5 projecting forwardly through and tted in the opening 2, said frame containing a clear, rectangular glass panel 6. In the rear thereof, the plate I is constructed tor form a second keeper frame 'I spaced laterally rearwardly from the frame 5 and opposite thereto, and which is similar to the frame 5. A second rectangular, rear, clear glass panel 8 is tted in the second, or rear, frame 1. A rectangular panel 9 of dark colored glass and substantially the same'size as the panels E, 8, is mounted in the space between the frames 5, 1, in a third rectangular keeper frame I0 similar to the frames 5, 1, but provided with right angled end wear tween the bottoms of the frames 5, 1, and is Vertically movable out of the space between the frames 5, -1 into a rectangular hood I3 formed on the plate 3 above the frames 5, 1, and which is open at its sides and forms above the frames 5, 'I a .guideway for the third frame I 0. A pair of transversely right angled, vertically disposed keeper and reinforcing bars I4 t along the sides of the plate 3, on the rear side of the latter, and overlap the rear side .of the frame 'I at the ends of said frame, said bars closing the sides of the hood I3 and forming together with the ends of the frames 'I and I0 vertical ways I-5 at the Sides of the hood I3 and at the ends of said frames 5 and 1. y'The bars I4 are provided with bayonet slots I'B therein for hooking :over the bolts 4 so that said bars are detachably attached to said plate 3 along-the side edges thereof.

A u-enaped yoke n straddles the ends of the third frame I0 with its -terminals pivoted, as at I8, to lugs I9 on the wear plates I I, the arrangement being such that the legs of the yoke are movable vertically in the ways I5 to move the third frame I0 upwardly, and said yoke depends below the plate 3 and is swingable laterally forwardly and rearwardly. Coil springs 20 suitably connected to the legs of the yoke I1, and to the plate 3,- within the ways I5, tend to swing the yoke forwardly substantially parallel with the plate 3. The yoke I1 is provided with a stern 2I threaded into a socket 22 on the yoke to depend centrally from the yoke, and said stem terminates in a lower end ledge 23 extending inwardly toward the mouth of the wearer of the helmet and normally located below the mouth, as shown in Figurel. The ledge 23, as will presently more clearly appear, forms a mouthpiece.

A right angled yoke swinging member 24 comprising an upstanding bar 25 and a right angled chin plate 26 is pivotally mounted adjacent the juncture of said bar and plate on the front of the helmet l so that the arm 25 extends upwardly between said front and the stem 2|, and the plate 2li underlies the chin of the wearerof the helmet, the arrangement being such that the plate 26 may be depressed by the chin to rock the member 24 and cause the bar 25, through engagement with the stem 2|, to swing the yoke rearwardly toward the face of the wearer so that the ledge 23 may be entered intotheopen :mouth ofthe gwearerzof ,the

helmet.

The mounting for the member 24 comprises a clip` 21, a pivot pin `28 extending through theV The foregoing wi1l,`it is believed. sumce to imi part a clear understanding of my invention withwearer, means to mount said panel in said helmet clip and through a hinge barrel 2,9,onthe-ba1' 25. a,

thumb screw 30 threaded throughthe' front of'` the mask and having the clip .sv/Tive1edeonf-thee inner end thereof, and a jamnut 3 L, on said screw. The thumb screw 3U andnutSl provide for properly adjusting the member -24 on the.

helmet .toward and from the face of the wearer ofthe helmet; f

l `In the modification `of Athe -vinventionshown in l Figure 7, the front'frame, designated-132 vinthis instance, isprovidedwith a suitable-endfpiece-33 pivoted, asat 34,'for lswingingmovement .toopen one end of the frame-'so that y-the..glass :panel-"35 may bereplac ed if broken;

In the modification-shown in Figure; the` rear I frame, 4designatelflili,"is provided'with a removable end 31 secured v to the top Aanclvloottom 'of `-the frame by spring iingers '.38 enga/gingy lapertured lugs 39.1 A nger grip :Miflis'provided on thefend' 31 to facilitate removingthe-same,V By removing the fend' 31, the frame 36 may `belopenec'iA for f1e canon-require.

The :oper-ation `:oi-the r`described invention will be readily understood; For clearvision through the sight opening Zand the clear glass panels 1B 'andA 8,

thewearer of the mask opensshisVorihen-mouth thereby, through lowering of the anhin,V operating thememberll'to swing the yoke ifi Aandi-:enter the :ledge ,23km the mou-thito be lifted "by closing ofthe lower'j aw.- This .operation liftsitheyoke i1 andthe-third frame i-llfsotasto'move 4the colored glass panel 9. upwardly c'learof :theiopening 2. The operator ImayA hol-cll the ledge I .i2 3, i `or #mouthpiece, y,between the teeth -tod'iold fthe colored.7 glass panelraised as long as-desiredY yAsfsoon as the ledge, V'Z3 iis released, the :springs :20 .retract :the yoke Handtheyoke-and the thirdframedz drop v'to normal:position. v*A'suiitable.sprung 42 fis connected to the `:armfiZ'l -of- :the -lmemlber' 2d :to return themember'to normal '.positionxasfsoonsas the-member .is ``released jaw.A

by closingv-offthe lower g5 o f for movement inopposite directions into and from covering relation'to said aperture, means to move saidl panel. inone direction comprising a mouthpiece swingably mounted for movement toward and from the 4mouth of the wearer, and means operative by opening movement of the lower jaw of the wearer to move said mouthpiece toward the ingafsight aperture'i'n the front thereof,a colored glass pa-nel-foreprotecting `the eyes of 4the wearer,

meansato` mountisaid panel in saidI helmet for movement in opposite directions into :and from covering relation to-fsaid aperture, meansftofmove saidnpanelfin one direction comprising Iafmouthpiece. swingably mounted for movement toward and fromevthe mouth :o f rthe wearer, Iand lmeans operative: byzopening movement .of thellower jaw orthewearer tomove saidv mouthpiece toward the mouth; the insti-mentioned, means Ycomprising fa yoke pivotally mounted on said panel, and a ledge onsaid yokeforzenteringrtheimouth. i

f l3;.Inahelmettto be wornaby melders and having a sight aperture in thefront thereof, aeolored lglasspanel for protecting the eyes of the wearer,

means ytoxnount ,said panel'lin vsaid helmet for movementdnwopposite directions Vinto .and from covering relationto said. aperture, means to move said panel in one direction. comprising .a-.m'outhev piece :.swingably mountedxformovement toward and from the mouth ofthe wearer, and-means koperative by opening movementofftheilower ljaw offthe wearer. tovmove ssaid mouthpiece towardrthe mouth;;the erstementioned. xmeans comprising a yokezxpivotally.:fmounted@ on said `panel and .depending therefrom, the second-'mentionedmeans comprisingy a rocking `.member underlyinggthe lower jaw of the lwearer. andgoperatifvely `related toithe yoke to swing vthesa'metoward the. mouth.

RALEIGH fr. summe: 

